Inside The Panthers

Pitt-Wake Forest Game Gaining National Hype

A battle between two bubble teams in the Pitt Panthers and Wake Forest is one of the games of the night.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt-Wake Forest Game Gaining National Hype
Pitt-Wake Forest Game Gaining National Hype /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers and Wake Forest Demon Deacons are set to play a critical matchup not just in the ACC standings but in the NCAA Tournament picture as well this week and this previously unassuming game is earning some national hype. 

Ahead of the marquee matchup at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein named Pitt-Wake Forest as one of the games of the day in the sport, alongside a pair of top-25 matchups and other games relevant to the bubble. 

ESPN's Joe Lunardi even went as far as to call this game, which he believes holds the most significance of any other played tonight to the bracket picture, is a "must-win" for both Pitt and Wake Forest. 

Rothstein also gave another shoutout to Pitt's superstar forward, Blake Hinson, who he believes is playing at an elite level and powering his team back into postseason contention. 

"Blake Hinson is playing like an All-American. He’s also pushed Pitt into the bubble picture. The 6'8 Hinson - who was an integral part of last season’s team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament - is averaging 34 points in his last two games and is 14-26 from three-point range during that span," Rothstein said. "During the Panthers’ current five-game winning streak, Hinson is averaging 23.6 points. Pitt will take a 17-8 record into tonight’s game at Wake Forest, which is one of two Quad 1 opportunities that the Panthers have remaining during the regular season."

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Pitt's Blake Hinson Earns More Player of the Week Awards

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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